A prosecution witness told a federal court on Friday that $2,045,000 in cash and several property title documents seized from a lawyer belonged to former Central Bank governor Godwin Emefiele.
David Jaiyeoba, the 12th prosecution witness, said the cash and papers were recovered from Collins Omeife at Zenith Bank headquarters in Lagos.
“Funds amounting to $2,045,000.00 alongside several property title documents were recovered from Zenith Bank Plc Headquarters in Lagos in the possession of one Mr Collins Omeife, lawyer to the defendant,” he told the court.
Jaiyeoba said Omeife admitted the money and the documents were Emefiele’s and that the lawyer had been “acquiring and perfecting title documents on the instruction of the defendant.”
“We found property documents and he also confirmed that the property belonged to the defendant,” the witness said.
The EFCC has linked the recovered funds to cash movements traced to Eric Ocheme Odoh, who served as Emefiele’s personal assistant while he was CBN governor, the witness added.
“Two million dollars was discovered to have come from one Eric Ocheme Odo,” Jaiyeoba testified.
Emefiele faces amended charges that include alleged procurement fraud, forgery and obtaining by false pretence, the prosecution said in court documents.
The trial continues as the court considers further witness testimony and evidence.
